Every year on Mother’s Day, Sydne Didier sends her own message of thanks to her son’s birth mother and foster mother. The last time I mentioned her, we were playing badminton. As so often happens when I watch him move, so smooth and confident in his body, I think of her. “I wonder if your […]
On this first Mother’s Day after the loss of her son Ronan, Emily Rapp ponders what it truly means to be a mother. “He was the son of his son—he was here, he was left behind.” – Colum McCann, Let the Great World Spin In preparation for this upcoming Mother’s Day, I’ve been reading a […]
It’s time to let our boys be themselves in all their variety as human beings, rather than walking representatives of masculinity. Three years ago, I wrote an essay called “Raising an Egalitarian Son” (published in Mutuality Magazine). Our process for doing that was straightforward: Don’t use sexist language; don’t push gender-based activities; and don’t watch […]
Originally appeared on Mamamia. Republished here with permission. My timing could be better. We’re just over a week away from Mother’s Day and here I am writing a post that essentially criticizes my mom. Let me tell you, it makes for uncomfortable writing. And it’s entirely Kate Winslet’s fault. More on that in a moment. […]
When will people stop treating Lyla Cicero’s husband like a saint just for doing his job as a dad? When my husband goes out alone with our children—diaper bag and double stroller in tow—the seas part for him as onlookers pause to gawk at the adorable twins, and their brave, laudable father “giving mom a […]
This originally appeared on Mamamia. Republished here with permission. All we knew of my birth mother was typed on a small sheet of paper: Dutch Australian; blue eyes; 5’3″; fair complexion; 18 years old; Catholic. Her age and religion coupled with the time into which I was born leave no doubt as to why she […]
Is parental oversharing on social media a cry for empathy, and for connection with other parents? What is it about kids’ crying and misbehavior that provoke such a reaction in us? It’s visceral. Whether your child is 2 weeks old or 2 years old, a child’s screams and weird behavior can rip at your inner […]
Rather than dealing with an issue upfront, Sydne Didier wrote about it here, and in the process, the problem only escalated. Last week, I wrote something for Role/Reboot—about the parent cliques at my son’s school—that struck a cord. And I’ve been on the verge of tears ever since. Nauseous. Sad. Worried. Anxious. And at the […]
